Ecole Montrose student wins 'Young at Art' contest

Grade 6 student Safari Novosol is this year’s winner of the Young at Art photography contest.

Photographer Tanya Sedore, who started the contest, stopped by Ecole Montrose last week to present Novosol with her prize: a basket that included a Nikon DSLR camera and chocolate from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

Novosol’s photograph, chosen by a panel from among 22 entries, shows her pet leopard gecko standing on a glassy black surface.

“It had lots of elements; there was colour, there was reflection, it was just a very enjoyable image to look at,” said Sedore, who owns T. Sedore Photography.

The photograph demonstrated a technical know-how that was “amazing for 12-and-under,” she added.

“It had a really shallow depth of field, it was tack sharp – things we’re not expecting from 12 and under.”

To get the photo, Novosol said she put the lizard on her brother’s black guitar and took the shot while lying on the ground.

“Because I thought that it would look cool if the reflection of her was underneath and I thought the black looked nice with her yellow colour,” the 11-year-old said, adding that it had just the effect she was after. “It looked like she was standing on her own reflection.”

It was Novosol’s love of animals that got her into photography, she said.

“I would always look at cool pictures or YouTube videos of people hanging out with animals and I just wanted to take pictures of them (animals).”

Winning the contest also means she gets one-on-one time with Sedore at her photography shop.

Novosol’s piece will be auctioned off at the fifth annual Young at Art auction on Sept. 21 at Centre 2000. Money raised at the event goes towards a fund to support youth in the arts. Sedore said she hopes to raise $20,000 this year. A live body painting will take place during the event, and there will also be live music.

The contest also received 22 entries for an older age category. The winner, who is in high school, will be awarded in September when the next school year starts.